Foamy stools are liquid stools with a large number of air bubbles and a sharp, fetid odor. The symptom is sometimes accompanied by pain and pain in the abdomen, flatulence. As a variant of the norm, such a chair is more often observed in infants. In older children and adults, the disorder occurs with nutritional errors, may be due to diseases of the digestive system. To determine the root cause of the appearance of foamy feces, a coprogram, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, endoscopy and radiography are performed. To normalize the stool, enterosorbents, probiotics, and antidiarrheal drugs are used.
Normally, due to the absorption of excess fluid in the large intestine, feces have a well-formed appearance and a moderately hard consistency. Liquid stools with a significant amount of foam are formed with increased gas formation in the intestines. Their formation is also facilitated by increased peristalsis. In young children, especially infants, this symptom is physiological and is usually not associated with other dyspeptic disorders. Foamy feces are also found in various organic and functional diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
In the first years of a child's life, the digestive system adapts to various foods, during which liquid dark yellow or greenish stools with foam are formed. The symptom is most typical for infants, which is associated with insufficient production of enzymes in the intestine. It is possible to increase bowel movements up to 8-1 times a day. If the symptom is observed frequently or is combined with the child's anxiety, constant crying, refusal to eat, an urgent need to contact a pediatrician. The appearance of foamy stools in infants is provoked by:
Perhaps hidden here are shocking photos of medical operations that show blood and intestines Are you 18 years old? Yes No Foamy stool in baby
Periodically, foamy stools in adults and children of older age groups are detected when eating certain foods. Most often, the development of a symptom is associated with eating a large amount of carbohydrate food, which undergoes fermentation reactions in the intestine, which increases gas formation. Characterized by increased stool up to 4-5 times a day. During each bowel movement, abundant foamy feces are released, which have a greenish tint and a sharp "sour" smell. Sometimes lumps of undigested food can be seen in the stool.
The symptom also occurs with the abuse of certain vegetables and fruits (cabbage, grapes, pears), legumes, the predominance of spicy dishes and smoked meats in the diet. In typical cases, dyspepsia resolves on its own within one day, the general condition of the person is not disturbed. The regular appearance of foamy feces, which is accompanied by vomiting, severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, is a sign of an organic pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. With such symptoms, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Foamy loose stools are considered one of the key signs of intestinal dysbiosis - a lack of beneficial bifidus and lactobacilli, which are necessary for normal digestion. Patients note the connection of symptoms with meals - at first, disorders occur after overeating, eating "heavy" fatty foods, then liquid, fetid stools are observed constantly, regardless of the nature of the diet. The chair becomes more frequent up to 5-7 times during the day. In addition to foamy feces, severe flatulence and rumbling in the intestines are typical, and abdominal pain is possible.
Foamy diarrhea is caused by disruption of the gastrointestinal tract when pathogenic microorganisms enter, as well as damage to the intestinal mucosa. Depending on the severity of the disease, the frequency of bowel movements varies from 5 to 2 times during the day, the feces are unformed, fetid, with a high content of coarse and medium bubbling foam. Disorders of the stool are accompanied by severe pain and pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite. In children, due to dehydration, the general condition quickly worsens. With the release of foamy feces proceed:
With gluten intolerance, foamy stools appear in children at the age of 7-8 months, when various cereals are used as complementary foods. Celiac disease is characterized by copious, fetid stools that are greenish or light brown in color with foam and particles of undigested food. Defecation becomes more frequent up to 10-12 times a day. Due to digestive disorders, the child loses weight. A combination of the symptom with bloating, anxiety and psychomotor agitation is typical. If the pathology is not detected in time, the child begins to lag behind in growth and physical development.
Watery, foamy stools are caused by low levels of an enzyme that breaks down milk sugar (lactose). As a result, undigested lactose accumulates in the intestines, which causes fermentation and gas production. Defecation disorders appear in infants after 3-4 days of life, when the mother forms mature milk rich in milk sugar. There is low weight gain and even weight loss. The passage of foamy feces after taking milk, accompanied by severe bloating, is also possible in adults.
Most often, violations become a side effect in the treatment of bacterial diseases (antibiotic-associated diarrhea). Changes in the nature of the stool are associated with a violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora and occur in 20-40% of patients. The symptom develops 2-3 days after the start of therapy and continues throughout the course of taking the drugs. A prerequisite for the formation of liquid stools with foam is also direct damage to the intestinal wall by aggressive medicinal substances. Side effects in the form of diarrhea are typical for such groups of drugs as:
When a foamy stool appears, patients turn to a gastroenterologist. Since the symptom can be due to various reasons, the specialist prescribes a comprehensive examination of the gastrointestinal tract using instrumental and laboratory methods. Diagnostic search involves clarifying the cause of defecation disorders and assessing the degree of secondary disturbance of metabolic processes in the body. The most valuable are:
All patients were shown general and biochemical blood tests. To clarify the diagnosis of celiac enteropathy, an endoscopic examination of the duodenum with a biopsy of its walls is performed. Confirmation of intestinal infections is performed by detecting antibodies in blood plasma. If there is a suspicion that a foamy stool is associated with congenital diseases, a consultation with a specialist in the field of medical genetics is recommended.
Bacteriological analysis of feces
With a mild form of defecation disorders, non-drug methods are recommended: drinking plenty of water to replenish the water balance, excluding fatty and spicy foods from the diet, pastries and fast food. To eliminate increased gas formation, enterosorbents can be used. Do not take strong antidiarrheals without a doctor's prescription as they may cause side effects. If the discharge of liquid, foul-smelling feces continues for more than 2-3 days, you should consult a specialist.
Probiotics are prescribed to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The presence of other dyspeptic symptoms (severe cramping abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, blood in the feces) against the background of foamy diarrhea is an indication for seeking medical help. Attempts to self-treat such conditions are fraught with the development of severe dehydration and aggravation of the underlying disease. Etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy is prescribed by a gastroenterologist after finding out the causes of stool disorders.